09/07/2021
, in general, depends on our bone density. Bone mineral density (BMD) is directly proportional to the exercises one performs. Therefore, the bone health of athletes is usually very good. Although, different activities and sports have different impacts on the bones.
Some athletic activities such as running, gymnastics, etc. are extremely effective and increase protection against . While others like swimming and cycling are not as effective and are said to be associated with higher bone loss. Why does this happen?
Low-impact exercises like swimming do not put adequate strain and pressure on the overall bones and muscles of your body. While sports like tennis, gymnastics involve heavy stress on various joints and bones. Jumping and running are said to have long-lasting, sudden effects on your , improving your further.
An important factor to take care of is an athlete's nutrition. The imbalance in heavy exercise routines and may be very harmful for the body and bone health. Loss of calcium, energy and nutritional deficits make the body weak and even endurance exercises may not reduce the bone loss in such cases.
Four main characteristics define the bone health in an athlete's body:
Magnitude of :
The amount of strain a bone or muscle endures during the activity. It is higher in Weight Lifting and gymnastics.
Repeatability of the Strain:
The speed and repetitiveness of the endurance activity defines the effectiveness of its strain on your bones and muscles.
Frequency of the Strain:
Exercises like running are not only repetitive but also long-term. Frequency plays an important role in maintaining bone health.
Proper Nutrition:
Calcium, Vitamin D and other minerals are as important for an athlete's body as their ability to perform activities for life-long health of their bones.
The balance of these 4 things can maximise bone density and subsequently, bone health in sportsmen and athletes. Our body is a temple and as we worship our dreams and ambitions, we should also worship our lifelong health!
